A&E Buzz: Behind the Scene

Dec. 20, 2012

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Iowa's Leach plugs into 'The Network'

Former U.S. Congressman Jim Leach figures prominently in a new video-portrait project called “The Network.” The Davenport native, who now leads the National Endowment for the Humanities, was one of 100 politicians, scientists, entrepreneurs and cultural leaders who sat for an interview with the artist Lincoln Schatz.

The artist compiled the interviews into a continuously looped video, which launched two weeks ago at the National Portrait Gallery. But the clips never replay in the same way; instead, the sequence shuffles based on certain keywords. Visitors might see Leach one moment and, say, National Rifle Association President David Keene the next — both talking about the same topic. Other names on the list: Karl Rove, Sandra Day O’Connor and Nancy Pelosi.

“You get a sense of the interviewee’s ardor, intensity and commitment to causes, and see broad connections between the content as it unfolds,” a Crain’s critic wrote. The artist also published an accompanying book, by the same title.

Ticket seller taps into social media

The Des Moines-based ticket seller Midwestix recently harnessed the power of social media in two ways. First, participating performers and event organizers can sell tickets directly from their Facebook pages. And second, ticket buyers can get rebates on service fees by posting a note about the event on Facebook or Twitter.

“Fans have already played a critical role in making an event successful by spreading the word,” Kathryn Dickel, who co-founded Midwestix with Heather Hansen, explained in an email. “We worked hard on an approach that gives something tangible back to the fan when they help promote the event.” The Midwestix client Heartland Jam — set for July 19 and 20 in Davenport — was the first to roll out the “social rewards” when its tickets went on sale earlier this month.